Many people in Virginia enjoy outdoor hobbies like hiking, hunting and fishing. The state also is home to thousands of blue collar workers in careers ranging from carpet installation to warehouse work.
Whether you have a knife for your hobby of mushrooming or your job that involves opening packages all day, you probably never think of your knife as a weapon. It is a tool. Regardless of your attitude toward your knife, the state of Virginia still considers it a weapon. In fact, you could actually break the law and face criminal charges if you have the wrong kind of knife or take your knife to the wrong place.
What kinds of knives has Virginia banned?
Virginia has some surprisingly strict rules about knife possession. Among them is an almost total prohibition on switchblades and ballistic knives. Knives with blades that discharge from the handle or that have spring-assisted opening mechanisms are generally not legal to possess in Virginia. If you get caught carrying them in public, you could face charges for both their possession and possibly the intent to sell the knife.
Carrying a knife on your body is often against the law
Most of the knives that people carry in public fit in their pockets or on their keychain. They aren’t plainly visible to others on the street, which means that they are concealed weapons under the law.
Police officers in Virginia could arrest you if they find you in possession of any concealed dirk, bowie knife, switchblade, machete or razor while in public. While knives may not seem to be as much of a safety threat as guns, law enforcement officers still enforce state knife laws.
Anyone facing a weapons charge related to the illegal possession or concealed carrying of a knife could face significant consequences if they don’t defend themselves. An experienced attorney can help.
